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1968 San Francisco, Two Vietnam War Protests

GI’s Take the Lead in 1968

Harvey photographed two marches to end the war in Vietnam in 1968 in San Francisco. Photos are presented in two galleries below. The first gallery presents photos from the April 27, 1968 march to end the war. It was led by GIs for Peace and had many other groups represented. The second is from the October 12, 1968 organized and led by GI’s For Peace.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchThe march was led by GI's for Peace.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchThe march was led by GI's for Peace.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchMany groups carried banners in the march.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchMany groups carried banners in the march.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchMany groups carried banners in the march.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchMany groups carried banners in the march.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchNo shoes and no shirts were not uncommon that day.

April 27, 1968 San Francisco Peace MarchMany groups carried banners in the march.

On October 12, 1968, GI’s for Peace organized and led another march to end the war in Vietnam. Harvey photographed this march led by active duty soldiers in uniform in full defiance of U.S. Army orders not to do that. See my blog post video about this march. The march reflected the increased numbers of soldiers rebelling against the war. During 1968, there were 155,536 individuals who were Away Without Leave (AWOL) from the U.S. Army (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidio_mutiny). Of those 53,357 were designated desertions. On October 14, 1968, two days after the march, 27 prisoners in the Presidio brig staged a sit down protest over conditions there. Newspaper headlines read “Mutiny in the Presidio”. The sit down protesters sang “We Shall Overcome” and were charged with desertion with a possible death penalty. One of the Presidio 27 remembered the events here. Photographs from that march are in the gallery below.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.Soldiers in uniform defiantly led the marchers and spoke at the rally.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.Soldiers in uniform defiantly led the marchers and spoke at the rally.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.Many soldiers and veterans wore white hats but not their uniforms.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.Verterns for Peace and Vietnam veterans for Peace carried their own banners.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.Reservists for Peace banner.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.Verterns for Peace and Vietnam veterans for Peace carried their own banners.

GI March for Peace, October 12, 1968.In one year, 1967-68, the number of U.S. soldiers killed went up from 8,230 to 28,286.